Be forewarned that the title of this film is ironic and rather should be called "Ugly." It is a harsh indictment of where repression, internalized homophobia, machismo and racism lead. The protagonist Francois is a 40/50-something husband, father and business owner, who leads a secret life that includes periodic gatherings with other white middle-aged males for group sex. He becomes infatuated with Christian, the grown son of a friend, who has always viewed Francois as an uncle. Numbed by his routine life, enraged by betraying his true nature, resentful of the liberation of gays and blacks in modern S. Africa, Francois' infatuation becomes an obsession and his frustration seethes and eventually explodes in graphic violence, seemingly with no remorse or understanding and, most regrettably, from this viewer's point of view, no consequences. Powerful but ugly and in the end leaving Francois unredeemable.
Review of Beauty
